The changing patterns of religious belief and practice in Ireland and elsewhere since the 1930s and 1940s

1. Some religious practices have died out e.g.

the strict Lenten fast,

monthly confession

the Eucharistic fast from midnight,

the Family Rosary,

the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament,

pictures or statues of the Sacred Heart at home.

2. Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) brought about important changes

Mass celebrated in the language of the people rather than in Latin.

The priest faces the people

choose to receive Communion in the hand not only on the tongue.

3. Between 1981 and 2005, there was a big decline in the number of people attending religious services – from 83% to 54%4. Yet from 2006 on wards there is an increase in some Irish communities of faith e.g. between 2002 and 2006, the Orthodox community in Ireland doubled in size and the Muslim community increased by 70 per cent (to over 32,000).

The Search for MeaningHuman beings unlike other creatures ask questions in order to learn about other people, about life and about the world around us, questions that sometimes cannot be answered. Questions are part of the search for the meaning of life, a sense of purpose in life what makes life feel worthwhile.e.g.WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE? Why do people suffer and die? What is life all about? Why be good? How can I find happiness? What do I want to do with my life? What is my goal/purpose in life?

Who influences your image of God?1. Parents influence their children’s images of God as the way they communiate with their children is reflected in their children's image of God - children strictly disciplined by their parents tend to see God as a punisher, children who see their parents as loving and powerful tend to imagine God as loving and powerful.2. Community of Faith the stories, beliefs and religious practices of a community of faith help to shape a person’s image of God. Research suggests that there are some differences in the way people of different religions think about God.3. Film for example Bruce Almighty, God is shown as a man dressed in white. This image of God encourages people to imagine God as a human being, usually male. In contrast, the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – teach that God is Spirit and does not have a body.

World view is the way we look at the world, it shapes the way we see the world and influences-our behaviour and attitudes.

Source: Irish Catholic Bishops Conference Practice and Belief among Catholics in the Republic of Ireland

Challenges to Religious Belief1. Materialism is centered on money so it is harder for them to recognise God in the everyday experiences of life.2. Secularism reduces the influence of religion in society.3. Individualism get so caught up in pursuing their own interests that they fail to become aware of the presence of God in the world around them.4. The technological world view conflicts with the religious view of the world and of the human being. The story of creation in Genesis tells us that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God and that our role is to imitate God the Creator by looking after all parts of creation. We are called to be stewards of creation. This means that we must use technology sensibly for the benefit of all people and all forms of life on this planet.

SCIENCE VERSES RELIGION In the past disagreement between the worlds of science and religion concerning creation has stopped in recent time. Science sets out to answer the ‘How?’ questions, e.g. How did the universe and life begin? Religion, on the other hand, tends to ask the ‘Why?’ questions, e.g. Why do the universe and life exist? Since religion and science search for truth by asking different questions, we need both in order to make sense of life and of the world. • In 1951, Pope Pius XII welcomed the theory of the Big Bang, saying that it should lead scientists to the Creator. • In 1992, Pope John Paul II said that the Church had made a mistake in the way it treated Galileo. He also suggested that there are ‘points of contact’ between religion and science – each helps us to understand ‘different aspects of reality’.